Asbestos in everyday life

A variety of asbestos-containing items have been collected by The Lanier Law Firm in its Spring, Texas, office.

Fireman's Coat - Aluminized Asbestos & Cotton, size Large.

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Piece of Ceiling Tile ­ Manufactured under various brand names (Conwed, Elof Haansen, Flintkote, Owens Corning Fiberglas, Simpson Timber) these were typically used in the drop down ceilings in schools and offices. Dusty when cut during installation, removal or worn out over time; becoming old and crumbly. Once that happens, asbestos dust would rain down on students, teachers & office workers.

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Advertisement for Kentile vinyl asbestos floor tile ­ (10x10 or 12x12 inch) Floor tiles in various colors commonly used in residential kitchens & laundry rooms as well as in schools and offices. Dusty when cut for installation, removal, or worn out over time and becomes old and crumbly.

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Advertisement for Asbestos backed Hot Pad.

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View of several items on display, including a children's doll (similar to a G.I. Joe) wearing and asbestos fireman's outfit.

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Numerous products on display. The "Snow Drift" was a holiday decoration that families sprinkled or applied (through a small spray gun) to Christmas trees, wreaths & greenery. This, and objects such as the hair dryer and toaster are ones people find most interesting because many can remember these particular common household products and didn¹t know that they contained asbestos.

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Johns-Manville Fireite furnace cement ­ This was used as coating on a residential or small commercial furnace. When the furnace was disturbed for repair, moving or breaking down dust was created.

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Asbestos cloth ­ Very fibrous, as you can see. Many of the Lanier law firm clients call it "asbestos cheesecloth". Oftentimes it was used to wrap asbestos-containing pipe covering in conjunction with asbestos-containing insulating cement. When used at a refinery, steel mill or other large, industrial job site; workers would have used the 3 asbestos-containing products to wrap miles and miles of hot temperature steam or chemical lines.

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Johns Manville Terraflex vinyl asbestos floor tile - 12x12 inch floor tiles in various colors. These were commonly used in residential kitchens, laundry rooms, etc., schools and offices. Dusty when it is cut to install, taken up, or becomes old and crumbly.

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Marvel Comics Strange Tales comic book, Issue 111 - August 1963 Featuring the Human Torch battling "Asbestos Man"! During this era asbestos companies were concealing the very hazardous nature of asbestos however the public thought asbestos was "the miracle mineral".